The 2025 Oscar winners have demonstrated that independent films are now champions rather than merely competitors. With “Anora” and “The Brutalist” taking up eight prizes apiece, this year’s gala cemented the Academy’s move away from spectacle and toward daring narrative and creative risk-taking.
At the 97th Academy Awards, Sean Baker’s speech was more than just an acknowledgement; it was a declaration. He advocated for the growth of independent films as he took the stage to accept the Best Picture prize for “Anora,” which seemed like a fitting message on a night when independent filmmaking was king. Big-budget studio productions were left in the dust while low-budget movies not only prevailed but also took center stage. Major prizes were won by “Anora,” “The Brutalist,” “A Real Pain,” “The Substance,” “Emilia Pérez,” “Flow,” and “Conclave,” but only “Dune: Part Two” and “Wicked” were able to save Hollywood’s blockbuster pride. With “The Brutalist” and “Anora” alone taking home eight prizes between them, the evening was a turning point in the history of the Oscars for independent films.
The turning point
When “Moonlight” stunned the world by defeating “La La Land” for Best Picture in 2017, it marked the beginning of the ascent of independent films at the Oscars. It wasn’t simply Warren Beatty’s error; it signaled a shift in the Academy’s voting patterns, favoring indie films with strong social themes over expensive studio productions. When “Parasite,” which was distributed by Neon, became the first non-English-language picture to win the Best picture Oscar in 2020, this change gained even more traction.Its triumph made it abundantly evident that strong narratives could cut through linguistic barriers and take on Hollywood’s largest studios. The floodgates opened from there. Big-budget films had every right to be concerned as “Nomadland,” “CODA,” and “Everything Everywhere All at Once” cemented the indie wave and turned it into a movement.
The Academy’s increasing acceptance of socially relevant narrative is the primary reason that has changed the Oscars environment. Movies that addressed immigration, societal acceptability, and aspiration, such as “Anora,” “The Brutalist,” and “The Substance,” struck a profound chord with viewers and voters. Their previous impressive showings at prestigious film festivals like Venice, Cannes, Sundance, Tribeca, and Busan—festivals that have long supported daring, provocative cinema—helped them achieve more success at the Oscars.On the other hand, big-budget studio production played it safe and eschewed risks since it valued box office profits over artistic independence, which resulted in a plethora of franchise and sequel movies. The few exceptions were under the direction of great directors like Christopher Nolan or Denis Villeneuve, demonstrating that in the current business climate, originality—rather than merely commercial appeal—is the secret to winning an Oscar.
The contribution of streaming platforms
The emergence of independent films has been greatly aided by streaming services, which have provided them with funding and publicity. Netflix backed “Emilia Pérez,” while Mubi supported “The Substance,” demonstrating how important digital platforms are now in determining who will win awards. Beyond streaming, production companies like Neon and A24 have established themselves as benchmarks for independent filmmaking excellence, guaranteeing that these films are seen by the audiences for whom they were intended. Oscar-winning movies like “Parasite,” “I, Tonya,” “Triangle of Sadness,” and “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” have helped Neon establish its name, while A24 has supported treasures like “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” “Lady Bird,” and “Moonlight.”As a result of these businesses’ growth into industry titans, independent films are now more widely available and no longer restricted to specialized markets.
No risk, no gain
A major change in the definition of cinematic greatness is reflected in the Oscars’ competition between independent and high-budget productions. Independent films have made a strong name for themselves at the Academy Awards, demonstrating that strong narratives and creative vision can triumph over spectacle, even while Hollywood blockbusters continue to dominate the box office. This pattern simply implies that the Oscars will continue to serve as a stage for daring, unorthodox stories, with only the most imaginatively ambitious high-budget productions making an impression. The struggle between commercial filmmaking and artistic risk-taking will continue as the industry develops, but for the time being, independent filmmaking remains firmly in the forefront.
